More to the story of Lebo, Auburn

Tuesday

Mar 8, 2005 at 12:01 AMMar 8, 2005 at 10:15 AM

Scribblin' on Sports . . .

As far as wins and losses, Jeff Lebo's first year as basketball coach at Auburn University isn't much. The Tigers will go into Thursday night's late game in the SEC tournament against Vanderbilt with a 13-16 record. And only four of those wins were in conference play. But there is more to this story.

To begin with, that is a lot more wins than anyone expected, especially the four in the SEC. One conference win may have exceeded expectations, considering the limitations this team has had in size, depth, strength and major college talent.

Considering that this little team lacks the ability to be competitive in the SEC, its accomplishments have been amazing.

"These kids have given me everything that they have every single day," Lebo said Monday. "We have to do that in order to compete."

He added, "They have really overachieved and battled through adversity. It is amazing what they have done."

That is what this team is all about. That is why Auburn fans should be proud of this coach and these players.

Forget the wins and losses; remember the way this team played its heart out in every game against tremendous odds.

The Tigers did that in their last game, upsetting Arkansas following a 41-point loss to Alabama. So Auburn will go into the tournament coming off a huge win.

Lebo pointed out that is nice, yet he mentioned that Vanderbilt (18-12) is a good team with an outside shot at the NCAA.

Less than a month ago Vanderbilt defeated Auburn by 24 points, holding the Tigers' two leading scorers, Ian Young and Toney Douglas to 1-20; and the team to 13-50.

When an one team can play defense well enough to do that to its opponent, then don't expect anything good to happen. It didn't in that game, and probably won't in the next one. Vanderbilt is a pretty good team, playing well right now.

Next year Auburn will have more players, and taller players. The team will again play hard, maybe even overachieve again. But Lebo said the outcome may now be much different.

He pointed out that in a situation such as Auburn is in, year two is harder than year one.

"It can be kinda like what Dennis (Felton of Georgia) is going though," Lebo said.

If Vanderbilt is going to get a 20th win and have a shot at the NCAA, it needs to have an easy win over Auburn. Second game will be against LSU, then there is Kentucky just around the corner. To have a shot at winning, the Commodores don't need to advance tired from their opening game.

Alabama third baseman Evan Bush went 2-for-3 in the recent win over McNeese State, including his first collegiate grand slam, in the second inning. He hit the first pitch over the wall in left-center field to give Bama a 7-0 lead.

Bush leads Alabama with four home runs this season. He is a junior, a native of Rainbow City and graduate of Southside High School.

Mike Goodson writes that in 1946, the teams in the old Southeastern League were the Gadsden Pilots, Pensacola Flyers, Anniston Rams, Vicksburg Bills, Montgomery Rebels, Jackson Senators, Meridian Peps and Selma Cloverleafs.

He said that over the years, some of the teams had several other nicknames.

"The Gadsden Pilots were called the `Chiefs' for one year and I think the Montgomery team was called the `Bombers' at one time," Goodson wrote.

A man who answered the phone at the Meridian City Recreational Department said it is his belief that the baseball team there was always the Meridian Millers.

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